Luxurious Demise

[Tomasso]

Who in the USPTO did he have to bribe for that to happen?

Maybe he went to court....

 

[1961MJS]

hmmm.... I was only 10-13 years old then so I just know what my friends thought was cool in California. Izod was not cool for whatever reason and if you had one you were labeled as a dork [huh] I already had enough help in that direction having buck teeth at the time.

I'm certainly not an expert in the whole polo shirt thing

Hi Rue

My data is ONLY for the UofI, where it seemed like every Chicagoan wore Izod shirts until 1981 or 2, then switched to Polo shirts. If you were seriously preppy, you wore Sperry Topsiders, no socks in the snow. I still have a pair of top siders I bought in 1985. I never figured California for preppy, NEVER would have guessed it at all. [huh] I went to the Rose Bowl in 1984, but didn't really notice clothing on the trip.

Later

 

[rue]

Hi Rue

My data is ONLY for the UofI, where it seemed like every Chicagoan wore Izod shirts until 1981 or 2, then switched to Polo shirts. If you were seriously preppy, you wore Sperry Topsiders, no socks in the snow. I still have a pair of top siders I bought in 1985. I never figured California for preppy, NEVER would have guessed it at all. [huh] I went to the Rose Bowl in 1984, but didn't really notice clothing on the trip.

Later

Oh yeah... there were the preps, the punk rockers, metel heads, the jocks..... just like in those 80s Hollywood movies.

 

[Gregg Axley]

Rue we're the same age.
I've seen the argument here about the Ralph Lauren Polo symbol, and the Lacoste alligator symbol.
Yeah, the gator was out and the polo symbol was in.
However, I was a shrewd shopper.
I bought (in 1983) a tie with a polo player riding an alligator, it was called a pologator tie.
I can't find it now...I'm sure I have it somewhere. LOL

 

[rue]

Rue we're the same age.
I've seen the argument here about the Ralph Lauren Polo symbol, and the Lacoste alligator symbol.
Yeah, the gator was out and the polo symbol was in.
However, I was a shrewd shopper.
I bought (in 1983) a tie with a polo player riding an alligator, it was called a pologator tie.
I can't find it now...I'm sure I have it somewhere. LOL

Post it in the tie thread if you do! I love ties, so I read it quietly shhhhhhhh

 

[Tomasso]

 

[Gregg Axley]

And there is an example...Nice.
I had one that was a mauve color.
Again, I'm not sure where it went but I'll poke around in a few minutes and see if I still have it.

 

[Stormy]

Hmmm...... What exactly IS luxury these days? I've never been very materialistic but have always had a thing for quality and rarity.

 

[Tomasso]

Hmmm...... What exactly IS luxury these days?

Oh say a 12 ply cashmere cardigan.

 

[Bluebird Marsha]

Hmmm...... What exactly IS luxury these days? I've never been very materialistic but have always had a thing for quality and rarity.

I think there are probably a dozen or more definitions of luxury. I think of it as quality and scarcity, usually combined with a high price. Which is why I don't consider things like diamonds to necessarily be luxurious. If the scarcity is artificially controlled, then it's just a triumph of marketing. Now pearls and jade- drool

Really the ultimate luxury would be to have staff. A cook, housekeeper, and a lady's maid to do my hair, massages, and keep my wardrobe in good shape.

 

[Tomasso]

Which is why I don't consider things like diamonds to necessarily be luxurious. If the scarcity is artificially controlled, then it's just a triumph of marketing.

Can you say De Beers!? And women have fallen for the ruse hook, line and sinker. Many years ago there was a Frontline piece that laid bare the whole diamond business. Over the years I've relayed the story to dozens of women and then posed this question: In lieu of real diamonds in your engagement ring would you accept a cubic zirconia in an quality gold/platinum setting and the cash equivalent of the real diamond deposited into a personal bank account to do with what you wish. Not one single woman went for the cash even though they all admitted that diamonds were relatively worthless. And these were for the most part educated professional women, many of whom were in the financial industry. Also, several of the women became hostile towards me for even broaching the subject. The Diamonds are Forever ad campaign must go down as one of the most successful ever.

 

[Bluebird Marsha]

Oh, I'm not one to turn down a pretty trinket- ooh sparkly, my favorite color!, but some things are just silly. Spending boo-koo money on carbonized pencil lead has always struck me as one of the things in life that is silly. They're just like new cars- they lose 20 % of their value the instant you walk out the door!

And when the day comes I get engaged, I still want a ring. But under the right circumstances, I'll be happy with a ring from a Cracker Jack box. Suitably engraved at Tiffany's of course.

 

[Kabel]

Oh, I'm not one to turn down a pretty trinket- ooh sparkly, my favorite color!, but some things are just silly. Spending boo-koo money on carbonized pencil lead has always struck me as one of the things in life that is silly. They're just like new cars- they lose 20 % of their value the instant you walk out the door!

And when the day comes I get engaged, I still want a ring. But under the right circumstances, I'll be happy with a ring from a Cracker Jack box. Suitably engraved at Tiffany's of course.

Pencil lead as in, for a technical pencil? Because if you like to draw, a technical pencil is a great tool for light lines and sketches. Also, how high is the price when it reaches the 'bookoo money' level? I'm really curious if there are ridiculous prices for material like that.

 

[C-dot]

Can you say De Beers!? And women have fallen for the ruse hook, line and sinker.

I was never keen on diamonds myself, preferring coloured gemstones, especially blue topaz. I heard about the De Beers heist from one of my professors, and did some independent research: I was shocked! I discovered a new reason not to want a big diamond. For anyone who hasn't looked into it, you should. It's a good read.

Luxury these days has really come to mean "costs a lot of money." You could be paying for a scam (see above), for tat with a label, or a ridiculously priced celebrity endorsement. This $190.00 cardigan is a great example of the latter. The label that makes it puts hilariously high prices on all their merchandise, but with a celebrity endorsement, it's even funnier.

 

[Tomasso]

Pencil lead as in, for a technical pencil?

BM was referring to diamonds.

 

[Kabel]

BM was referring to diamonds.

I can be thick at times

 

[Bluebird Marsha]

I guess that diamonds and pencil lead are cousins of a sort. Pencil lead would be the hard working one.
People can be goofy where money and perceived value are concerned. Several years ago my step-dad worked for a man who on first inspection was a wealthy, retired, insurance man. On closer inspection he was a con-man grown old. He liked to give expensive bottles of wine to people, who were always impressed. My parents "re-gifted" a bottle he gave to them. Not to impress, but they don't drink. Their friends were thrilled, and raved about good it was. When he died, we made a discovery.

He had been going to the expensive restaurants in Tampa, and buying expensive, but empty wine bottles from the staff. Then he'd refill them with something from ABC Liquor. And no one ever caught on. The value was all in the marketing.

 

[Yeps]

I guess that diamonds and pencil lead are cousins of a sort. Pencil lead would be the hard working one.

There is a lesson there. Everyone relies on the hardworking one, and it gets worn out. The diamond on the other hand, doesn't do much (no stress) stays beautiful and lasts longer.